ENDORSEMENT: Vote for Littleton in county district 5

The Gazette’s editorial board recommends Republican Peggy Littleton over Democrat Michael Merrifield.

Merrifield advocates a stronger, more active board of county commissioners (as in more county government) as the path to improving quality of life in El Paso County.

Littleton advocates a leaner, more efficient county and more fiscal responsibility — a more realistic approach as taxpayers continue trying to survive a worldwide recession.

Each candidate is impassioned and likeable, but Littleton advocated public policies that were more logical and more likely to keep county government out of our lives.